existing boy was to be treated with equal favour; and his happiness, so
said the doctor, was of much easier attainment.

'Why struggle after future advantage at the expense of the present
pain, seeing that the results were so very doubtful?'

Many an opponent of the doctor had thought to catch him on the hip when
so singular a doctrine was broached; but they were not always
successful. 'What!' said his sensible enemies, 'is Johnny not to be
taught to read because he does not like it?' 'Johnny must read by all
means,' would the doctor answer; 'but is it necessary that he should
not like it? If the preceptor have it in him, may not Johnny learn not
only to read, but to like to learn to read?'

'But,' would say his enemies, 'children must be controlled.'

'And so must men also,' would say the doctor. 'I must not steal your
peaches, nor make love to your wife, nor libel your character. Much as
I might wish through my natural depravity to indulge in such vices, I
am debarred from them without pain, and I may almost say without
unhappiness.'

And so the argument went on, neither party convincing the other. But,
in the meantime, the children of the neighbourhood became very fond of
Dr Thorne.

Dr Thorne and the squire were still fast friends, but circumstances had
occurred, spreading themselves now over a period of many years, which
almost made the poor squire uneasy in the doctor's company. Mr Gresham
owed a large sum of money, and he had, moreover, already sold a portion